'''Vologda''' (''Во́логда'', [http://www.vologda-city.ru/]) is a city in [[Northwestern Russia]].

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[[Image:Vologda1.JPG|thumb|250 px|In the center of Vologda]]

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'''Vologda''' (''Во́логда'', ''VOH-log-dah'' [http://www.vologda-city.ru/]) is a city in [[Northwestern Russia]].

==Understand==

==Understand==

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While Vologda is becoming increasingly popular among Russian local tourists, it still remains undeservedly undiscovered by international visitors.

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During the Orthodox Christmas and the New Year holidays, Vologda acts as the major transit point for crowds going to [[Veliky Ustyug]], the Russian Ded Moroz's (Father Frost) residence.

== History ==

== History ==

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Vologda was firstmentioned under year 1147. It was major transit city before St.Petersburg was founded (1703). 1565-1571 Ivan the Terrible proposed Vologda as the new capital of his domain (instead of Moscow).

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Vologda was first mentioned in the year 1147. It was a major transit city before St.Petersburg was founded (1703). From 1565 to 1571, Ivan the Terrible proposed Vologda to be the new capital of his domain (instead of Moscow).

==Get in==

==Get in==

===By plane===

===By plane===

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VGD airport is not busy at all. There are only 2 flights a week from Vnukovo (Moscow) 8pm and 2 flights return to Vnukovo 8am, on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

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VGD airport provides regular flights from St.Petersburg only (since Aug 12, 2013), three flights a week - Mo, We, Fri (pskovavia.ru, agent.ru) 10:10am there and 14:25 return. The price is reasonable and competitive by train. The airport is situated 8 km north of the city centre, easily reachable by bus or taxi.

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Airport is situated 8 km north from city centre, easily reachable by bus or taxi.

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The nearest international airport is Cherepovets (CEE) (see http://wikitravel.org/en/Cherepovets for details)

===By train===

===By train===

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The train is still the most convenient way to get to Vologda. Vologda stands on the intersection of railways Moscow-Arkhangelsk and St.Petersburg-Ekaterinburg. You can get there from St.Peterburg Ladozhsky station in 12 hours, 3 trains (both day and night) or from Moscow Yaroslavsky station in 8-9 hours, 6 trains a day (see pass.rzd.ru for details).

===By car===

===By car===

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Vologda is 470km north of Moscow by the M8 road. It takes 5-7 hours of driving to reach the city, depending on traffic. Road conditions are generally good for [[Russia]], excluding the total mess with street navigation when passing [[Yaroslavl]]. So, using a GPS navigator is recommended.

===By bus===

===By bus===

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There are some direct bus lines from the Moscow airports to Vologda. They are rather cheap, but it is difficult for international passengers to use this option (see, for example, http://kucher35.ru/service.php).

===By boat===

===By boat===

==Get around==

==Get around==

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[[Image:Vologda2.JPG|thumb|250 px|A victory parade near the kremlin of Vologda]]

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Public transportation in Vologda is rather good. There are buses and trolleybuses. You can buy a ticket (16 RUB) from the conductor or driver. You can save on several routes with 15- or 30-ride smart-cards (15 or 14 RUB per ride respectively). Smart-cards are valid on all trolleybuses and buses with red-square "Zabota" signs.

*<buy name="" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Vologda is famous for its lace manufacture, so lace products are recommended as good gifts for tourists.</buy>

Vologda was first mentioned in the year 1147. It was a major transit city before St.Petersburg was founded (1703). From 1565 to 1571, Ivan the Terrible proposed Vologda to be the new capital of his domain (instead of Moscow).

VGD airport provides regular flights from St.Petersburg only (since Aug 12, 2013), three flights a week - Mo, We, Fri (pskovavia.ru, agent.ru) 10:10am there and 14:25 return. The price is reasonable and competitive by train. The airport is situated 8 km north of the city centre, easily reachable by bus or taxi.
The nearest international airport is Cherepovets (CEE) (see http://wikitravel.org/en/Cherepovets for details)

The train is still the most convenient way to get to Vologda. Vologda stands on the intersection of railways Moscow-Arkhangelsk and St.Petersburg-Ekaterinburg. You can get there from St.Peterburg Ladozhsky station in 12 hours, 3 trains (both day and night) or from Moscow Yaroslavsky station in 8-9 hours, 6 trains a day (see pass.rzd.ru for details).

Vologda is 470km north of Moscow by the M8 road. It takes 5-7 hours of driving to reach the city, depending on traffic. Road conditions are generally good for Russia, excluding the total mess with street navigation when passing Yaroslavl. So, using a GPS navigator is recommended.

There are some direct bus lines from the Moscow airports to Vologda. They are rather cheap, but it is difficult for international passengers to use this option (see, for example, http://kucher35.ru/service.php).

Public transportation in Vologda is rather good. There are buses and trolleybuses. You can buy a ticket (16 RUB) from the conductor or driver. You can save on several routes with 15- or 30-ride smart-cards (15 or 14 RUB per ride respectively). Smart-cards are valid on all trolleybuses and buses with red-square "Zabota" signs.